How to hire an industrial chemist

How to hire an industrial chemist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step industrial chemist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an industrial chemist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new industrial chemist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring an industrial chemist, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect industrial chemist also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   The following list breaks down different types of industrial chemists and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Industrial Chemist	Description	Hourly rate
   Industrial Chemist	Chemists and materials scientists study substances at the atomic and molecular levels and the ways in which the substances interact with one another. They use their knowledge to develop new and improved products and to test the quality of manufactured goods.	$25-56
   Chemist, Development	A development chemist is responsible for delivering products that are specially created for a customer. You will be responsible for conducting qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses for process or quality control... Show more	$22-52
   Research And Development Chemist	A research and development chemist primarily works at laboratories to conduct extensive tests and experiments aiming to develop new products and technologies. Although the extent of their duties may vary, it typically revolves around conducting research and studies, observing chemical reactions, maintaining records and databases, collaborating with fellow experts, and identifying the strengths and weaknesses of existing components or mixtures... Show more	$25-54

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Titration
   • HPLC
   • R
   • GMP
   • Laboratory Equipment
   • Analytical Support
   • UV-Vis
   • GC
   • Ms
   • XRF
   • ICP
   • USP
   • Sops
   • QC

   Responsibilities:

   • Write procedure deviations forms to justify valid results or outliers to accomplish GLP regulations.
   • Analyze industrial hygiene samples with HPLC and GC.
   • Perform HPLC analysis on air quality filter and badges.
   • Maintain various logbooks and records pertaining to GC, LC, and gravimetric instruments.
   • Perform soxhlet extractions and GC analyses of compound treat rodent feed used in toxicity studies.
   • Take initiative to be cross-train in chemistry methods used by the company to perform additional tests that ensure uninterrupt laboratory operation.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your industrial chemist job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An industrial chemist salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, industrial chemists' average salary in florida is 57% less than in delaware.
   • Seniority. Entry-level industrial chemists earn 56% less than senior-level industrial chemists.
   • Certifications. An industrial chemist with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an industrial chemist's salary.

   Average industrial chemist salary

   $78,632yearly

   $37.80 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level industrial chemist salary

   $52,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

4. Writing an industrial chemist job description

   A job description for an industrial chemist role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's an industrial chemist job description:

   Industrial chemist job description example

   Stellenbeschreibung:
   Arbeiten Sie mit innovativen 3Mern auf der ganzen Welt
   Die Wahl des richtigen Arbeitgebers ist eine Entscheidung, die Ihr Berufs- und Privatleben gleichermaßen erheblich beeinflusst. Daher ist es umso wichtiger, sich dabei jederzeit auf die Unterstützung des Unternehmens und dessen Führungskräfte verlassen zu können. Bei 3M werden Sie Teil eines globalen Multitechnologiekonzerns, der Ihre individuellen Stärken wertschätzt, Ihre berufliche und persönliche Weiterentwicklung fördert und Ihnen Freiraum für Kreativität, Neugier und Eigeninitiative bietet. Treiben Sie gemeinsam mit 3Mern aus verschiedenen Kulturen & Nationalitäten nachhaltige Projekte, Ideen und Innovationen voran, die eines zum Ziel haben: das tägliche Leben eines jeden Einzelnen zu verbessern.
   
   „Die Produktion ist das Herzstück von 3M - hier ziehen wir alle an einem Strang, unterstützen einander und sind einfach EIN Team. Dabei schätze ich es besonders, einen großen Freiraum zu haben, in dem ich mich entfalten, entscheiden und meine Ideen einbringen kann. Dabei gleichzeitig das Vertrauen in mich und die Wertschätzung für meine Arbeit zu spüren, ist für mich Motivation pur.“ Igor Kirin, Supervisor in der Produktion
   
   Ihr Beitrag zu unserem gemeinsamen Erfolg
   Als Betriebsingenieur an dem Standort Wuppertal (*) haben Sie die Möglichkeit Ihr Wissen zielgerichtet einzusetzen, um unseren gemeinsamen Erfolg voranzubringen. Dabei umfasst Ihr Aufgabengebiet:
   Technische Verantwortung und Betreuung von Tank- und Destilliationsanlagen sowie Anlagen zur thermischen Nachverbrennung, Abluftbehandlungsanlagen und Misch- und AnsatzstationenSicherstellung der Einhaltung behördlicher VorgabenSelbstständige Bearbeitung und Leitung von Projekten zur Optimierung und Weiterentwicklung der vorhandenen Anlagen hinsichtlich Sicherheit, Umweltschutz, Qualität und Service für unsere KundenVerbesserung der Anlagen und deren Komponenten insbesondere hinsichtlich Instandhaltungskosten, Anlagenverfügbarkeit und Energieeffizienz
   
   Das sind Ihre Kompetenzen
   Die Mindestqualifikationen dieser Rolle umfassen:
   abgeschlossenes Studium im Bereich Chemieingenieurwesen / chemische Verfahrenstechnik / Kunststofftechnik oder einer vergleichbaren FachrichtungGute Kenntnisse der deutschen und englischen Sprache in Wort und SchriftGute analytische Fähigkeitenstrukturierte, lösungsorientierte und eigenständige Arbeitsweise
   
   Diese weiteren Kenntnisse sind von Vorteil:
   Kenntnisse im Bereich BimSchG / Betriebssicherheitsverordnung / Maschinenrichtlinie / Gefahrstoffverordnung und weiterer einschlägiger Normen und RichtlinienAusgeprägte Kommunikationsfähigkeit, Teamfähigkeit sowie Überzeugungs- und Durchsetzungskraftumfassende Kenntnisse auf den Gebieten Sicherheit, Gesundheits- und UmweltschutzRelevante Berufserfahrung im Anlagenbau bzw. bei der Durchführung von Projekten in der chemischen Industrie
   
   Unser Beitrag zu Ihrem Erfolg
   Eine faire, leistungsorientierte und wettbewerbsfähige Bezahlung ist für uns selbstverständlich. Um attraktiv für die besten Köpfe zu sein, beobachten wir regelmäßig die Standards im Markt. Darüber hinaus kommt je nach Position und Standort ein breites Spektrum an Sozialleistungen hinzu - dazu gehören beispielsweise Zusatzzahlungen wie Urlaubsgeld, eine Betriebsrente sowie tarifliche und außertarifliche Leistungen. Eine gute Work-Life-Balance ist die beste Basis für zufriedene und motivierte Mitarbeiter, deshalb ist Flexibilität schon lange Teil unserer DNA. Wir wollen, dass sich Ihr Job Ihrer Lebenssituation anpasst - nicht umgekehrt! Je nach Position und Möglichkeit bieten wir Ihnen individuelle, flexible Arbeitsmodelle.
   
   (*) Bei 3M spielen Vielfalt und Inklusion eine entscheidende Rolle für Innovation. Hier werden Sie eine Kultur entdecken, die keinen ausgrenzt. Wir wertschätzen verschiedene kulturelle Hintergründe und heißen alle Bewerber, unabhängig des Geschlechts, Alters, Nationalität, Religion oder sexuellen Orientierung, herzlich willkommen!
   
   Please note: your application may not be considered if you do not provide your education and work history, either by: 1) uploading a resume, or 2) entering the information into the application fields directly.
   
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5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right industrial chemist for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your industrial chemist job on Zippia to find and recruit industrial chemist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit industrial chemists, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new industrial chemist

   Once you've found the industrial chemist candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new industrial chemist first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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